Secret cell of British Muslim women encouraging others to join Islamic State exposed

The group holds clandestine, invite-only meetings in back rooms where members
show their support for the terror group

A secret British cell of Islamist women is brainwashing young female Muslims in the UK and encouraging them to join Isil, an undercover investigation has revealed.

The group holds clandestine, invite-only meetings in back rooms where members show their support for the terror group and warn Allah will “destroy” those fighting it.

Umm L is Rubana, a mother of four living in London and residing at the same address as a leading member of a banned extremist organisation. Photo: Channel 4

One of the women resides at the same address as a well known British extremist while another lives with another fanatic.

They were caught on camera, at meetings were young children were present, attacking the “filthy Jews” and telling young Muslim women that Britain is waging war against them.

One of the meetings is held in a local Government-funded community centre without the managers realising what is going on.

A veiled British Muslim woman filmed by an undercover reporter. Photo: Channel 4

The expose follows a year-long undercover operation by Channel 4 during which a young Muslim woman infiltrated the group.

Police were on Monday examining the footage and one former senior prosecutor said some of the comments may have broken the law.

One of the leading members of the group is a woman who goes by the Twitter name Umm L.

Her real name is Rubana, a mother-of-four who lives in London with a known extremist and leading member of a now banned organisation.

She also once set up the women’s wing of the now banned al-Muhajiroun group.

In a secretly filmed two-hour lecture, she says the “good days have already begun” because a Khilafah (Islamic State) has been established.

In a clear reference to the attacks against Isil, she added: “It’s not the first time nations have plotted against the believers.

“It’s not the first time nations have plotted against the believers. It’s not the first time the alliance has been formed like they have now with this coalition against the Khilafah [Islamic State]. But Allah one by one he will destroy them.”

She also accuses “filthy Jews” of killing innocent Muslim woman and children.

The woman angrily confronts the undercover reporter when she becomes suspicious and accuses her of being a “spy” before banning her from future meetings.

The reporter, who uses the name Aisha, had been put in contact with the secret group after first making contact online and then meeting with male extremists at demonstrations.

She was then invited to women-only talks, called Islamic Talks for sisters or Islamic Circles for women, the location and times of which were only texted to her close to the time.

Another of the women is called Umm Saalihah, who has lived at the same address as Mohammed Shamsuddin, who was arrested last year on suspicion of encouraging terrorism and being a member of al-Muhajiroun.

On Twitter, Saalihah said it was “necessary” to live under the khilafah.

In a talk in north London, where young children are present, she attacks the Western coalition “cowards” for “throwing air strikes on to the Khilafah” and praises the courage of jihadists.

A third woman, under the name Umm Usmaan, wrote on Twitter: “Go to Sham (Syria) for it is the best of Allahs lands on earth.”

Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said of Umm L's reference to Isil: ““She does more than support them, she’s saying that the so-called Islamic State is the Caliphate, and by supporting them, she is potentially committing a criminal offence.

“ It’s more than worrying, it’s extremely dangerous when you’re having that conversation. There are young people in the room, there are children in the room, there are women and we’ve got several examples of women who’ve taken their whole families, to Syria and Iraq.”

On Saalihah’s lecture, he added: “Without any context that she’s - she’s attached to her statements she is clearly sympathetic, more than sympathetic to the so-called Islamic State. She’s presenting that as the only show in town, and that if you are a Muslim then that’s what you should aspire to, and that is extremely dangerous.”

The documentary, The British Women Supporters Unveiled, will be aired on Channel 4 on Monday night at 9pm.

Syria: timeline of British involvement

A timeline of Britain’s involvement in Syria since 2013

August 2013

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August 2013

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September 2013

Miliband criticised for Syria position

Former party leader Ed Miliband is criticised for hardening his position over Syria by saying that Labour would only support military action against the Assad regime if Britain’s national security was threatened. A concerned Labour MP said: “I am very worried that this could lead us to a position where Britain is not able to mount a military response if needed.”

September 2014

Cameron: “Strong case” for UK military intervention in Syria

The Prime Minister says military intervention in Syria would be lawful on the grounds of intervening to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. He adds the government would seek Parliamentary approval for the extension of air strikes against IS extremists in Iraq to Syria.

February 2015

UK to play a "leading role" in fight against IS

The UK says that no decision had been made about how it would be involved in the fight against IS, but that it would play a "leading role".

June 2015

Britain moves a step closer to bombing IS targets in Syria

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July 2015

Public learn that British pilots have been killing IS fighters

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August 2015

First targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen in Syria

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November 2015

Britain works "hand in glove" with US to kill Jihadi John

David Cameron praises British intelligence agencies and armed forces for working "hand in glove" with the US to carry out an air strike in Raqqa, targeting Mohammed Emwazi - the Isil executioner known as Jihadi John.